Methods of producing data storage devices for appliances which can be used to coach users in the performance of user-selected tasks

ABSTRACT

Encoded data storage devices with stored data corresponding to: (a) information for coaching a user in accomplishing one or more steps of a specified task in a learn-then-perform way, and (b) an instruction set which enables the user access to access the information on a user-selected step of the task. Methods of providing and employing encoded data storage devices of the character just described.

REFERENCE TO ANOTHER APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 08/569,310 entitled INFORMATION AND ENTERTAINMENT CENTER and filedDec. 8, 1995.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention relates to data storage devices forappliances which are used to coach users in the performance ofuser-selected tasks and to the operation of these appliances.

In a second and especially important aspect, the present inventionrelates to the provision of encoded data storage devices ascharacterized in the preceding paragraph which provide information in alearn-while-doing fashion; i.e., in a way which places emphasis on auser of the appliance first being coached on, and then performing, thosesteps of a task on which information is wanted.

In a third aspect, the present invention relates to methods of producingdata storage devices as characterized in the preceding paragraphs whichhave: (a) task-related information retrievable and displayable intextual, graphic, textual-graphic and/or video form with, if desired, anaudio accompaniment; and (b) instructions for controlling the retrievaland display of the stored information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. application Ser. No. 08/569,310 filed Dec. 8, 1995discloses one of a class of new and novel appliances having a COACH modeof operation in which the user is coached through the performance of auser-selected task. Major elements of those appliances are: (a) a playerfor a laser readable data storage device such as a video compact disc,an audio compact disc, a laser disc, or one of the soon to be availabledigital video discs; (b) a CRT, flat screen, or other visual displaydevice for information retrieved from the data storage device; and (c)an audio output device; e.g., a conventional loudspeaker. Video discsare preferred over audio discs because a visual/audio presentation of asubject (or even a visual presentation alone as in the case of aningredients or parts list, for example) will typically be superior tosound alone in conveying information to the user.

Stored on the preferred video compact disc are an introductory videowhich coaches the user in the operation of the appliance; a hierarchy ofuser-retrievable, multiple choice menus; and, for each of the choices ina bottom level menu, a video demonstration or static display (text,graphics, or text-graphics) for coaching the user through a task or astep of a task.

The introductory video allows a new user to easily use the system toaccess selected information on the very first try without training orguidance from another person and without consulting writteninstructions. For many, the elimination of the need to refer to writteninstructions is of paramount importance as they consider any more thanthe most rudimentary written instructions distasteful, if not somethingto be avoided at all costs.

In its COACH mode of operation, the appliance disclosed in the '310application defaults to the playing of the introductory instructionalvideo. The user can recycle to the beginning of the video after it hasfinished playing or at any time while the video is playing. This isparticularly advantageous to the new user who can thereby easily playthe introductory video as many times as is perceived to be necessary toassimilate information which the video presents.

The user can skip at any point in the introductory video to the highestlevel menu in the menu hierarchy. Otherwise, the advance to the toplevel menu will automatically occur when the introductory video ends.

Once the highest level menu is reached, the user is coached through themenu hierarchy. Beginning with the top level menu, the user can selectone of the menus available on each successively lower level and can makea choice of the items of information available from the lowest levelmenu in a particular hierarchy.

If the choice from the selected lowest level menu results in a video oraudio clip being played, the user is automatically returned to the menu(lower level) from which the selection is made upon completion of thepresentation.

If a static display of information is present on the integrated unitscreen, that display will stay on the screen until taken off by theuser. That returns the user to the menu from which the information wasselected.

The user can also back up stepwise through the hierarchy of menus to thetop level menu and from the latter to the introductory video.

If operation of the appliance in the COACH mode is interrupted,operation of the appliance will resume from the point of interruptionwhen operation in the COACH mode is restored. The user is therebyrelieved of the task of navigating through the introductory video andperhaps an entire hierarchy of menus to the point previously reached ifhe or she wishes to: (a) interrupt a search for, or the display of,information; and (b) then return to the search for or viewing ofdisplayed information.

There are occasions on which a user may wish to review all or part ofthe introductory video or the top level menu in the hierarchy afterhaving navigated part or all of the way through the hierarchy of menus.The user can return in one step to the beginning of the introductoryvideo or the top level menu from any level of operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed here are certain new and novel prerecorded (or encoded) datastorage devices for use in appliances of the character described aboveand methods for producing those devices. A prerecorded data storagedevice, in this context and for the purposes of the present invention,is a video compact disc or alternative permanent memory device whichcontains, in a digitized form retrievable by an appropriate disc playeror other data retriever: (a) information for coaching one through thecarrying out of tasks and/or the steps of tasks; and (b) controlinstructions which allow the user to reach and bring up a (typically)visual or visual-audio display of information by which the user iscoached through a task at hand or a step of that task. Data, in thisrespect, is used herein to include both the stored digital code whichrepresents the information available to the user and the stored digitalcode for the control instructions.

The initial step in the disc--producing process is to select thetask--or more often multiple tasks--which the user of the appliance canobtain coaching on. Unless a task is extremely simple, it is dividedinto a set of logical steps arranged in an orderly sequence. The stepsare self-contained; i.e., the user does not have to retrieve informationon a preceding or subsequent step to be completely coached with respectto the step focussed on at any given time.

The next step is to select an appropriate information format forcoaching a user on accomplishing each of the steps into which the taskhas been divided (or on the task itself if, for example, the taskemploys only a single step). Available formats include static textual,graphic, and graphic-textual displays and video presentations. In many,if not the majority of, cases the visual presentation will beaccompanied by appropriate audio.

Typically in parallel with the two preceding steps, an instruction setfor each task is generated. This instruction set enables the commandoptions available to the user for each task--for example: display thenext lower level menu, display the information available on a specificstep of the task, return to the introductory video, etc.

Once the coaching information and the instruction sets are generated,the video data is compressed; and authoring software is employed toconvert or translate the instruction set and coaching information to aformat readable by the compact disc player or other data retriever. Thethus formatted data is then written to the data storage device. If thestorage device is a video compact disc as is presently preferred, aconventional CD writer will be employed for this step.

Prerecorded compact discs and other encoded storage devices embodyingthe principles of the present invention are unique in that they make alearn-while-doing way of performing a task available to a user ofequipment employing the encoded data storage device. The presentinvention emphasizes a watch-then-perform approach to the accomplishmentof each step in a task, and the instruction set is so constructed thatthe user can easily reach the information relating to the performance ofa particular step, repeat the presentation of that information, advancesequentially through the steps of the task, skip steps, return directlyto an introductory video or the first step of the task, and otherwisenavigate through the available choices in a fashion which best meets hisor her needs.

Prerecorded compact discs which allow a user to select visuallydisplayable and visual-audible segments from the disc are available.These currently available discs are of quite different character fromthose disclosed herein. They do not have the capability of coaching onein the accomplishment of a task, let alone give one the ability toselect only those steps of a task on which coaching is wanted, to repeatthe presentation of information on a selected step, to advance throughavailable steps in a user-customized manner, to return directly to aninitial step or introductory video, or other navigate through availablechoices as he or she elects. Instead, all that is typically available isa generally lengthy video, much of which may be of no interest. Tolocate and view only a wanted part of such a video is cumbersome andtime consuming, at best. Also, the information is typically notperformance oriented. It does not coach one on how to carry out a taskor steps of a task.

Furthermore, the instruction sets found on conventional discs do nothave the versatility of those disclosed herein. For example, noprovision is made for navigating through a hierarchy of menus, forone-step return to an introductory video or the top level menu in a menuhierarchy, for repeated viewing of coaching information presented in avideo format, etc.

The objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will beapparent to the reader from the foregoing and the appended claims and asthe ensuing detailed description and discussion of the inventionproceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts, pictorially, one representative system for retrievingand presenting, in visual or visual/audio form, information stored on avideo compact disc or other data storage device in a format which, whenretrieved and presented, coaches the system user in the performance of auser-selected task or a step employed in accomplishing the task;

FIG. 1A is a plan view of a remote control, which is a component of theFIG. 1 system;

FIG. 2 shows, in schematic form, the operating system of an integratedunit which is also a component of the FIG. 1 system;

FIG. 3 depicts, in block diagram form, the steps of the novel processemployed in making a prerecorded data storage device embodying theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing how data representing information andinstruction sets is compressed, translated to a retrievable format, andwritten to the data storage device;

FIGS. 5-8 each show what is termed in above-cited application Ser. No.08/569,310 a navigation chart; each navigation chart includes: (a) astructural representation of how retrievable information is organized,and (b) an associated control instruction set which allows a user tonavigate through available options to reach pertinent information and toaccomplish other objectives; and

FIGS. 9A through 9B, taken together, constitute a representative datastorage layout which embodies the principles of the present inventionand which includes: (a) an introductory video, (b) a hierarchial arrayof user navigable menus, and (c) dynamic (video clip) and static(graphic-textual) presentations of information which can be reached by auser of the FIG. 1 appliance and employed to coach the user through thesteps of a representative task depicted in the layout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawing, FIG. 1 depicts an appliance or system 30designed to retrieve information from a video compact disc 31 embodying,and storing data in accord with, the principles of the presentinvention. System 30 is so constructed that one can easily, and at anytime, switch between: (a) watching television, and (b) a COACH mode ofoperation in which information stored on a video compact data storagedisc 31 is retrieved and presented in visual or visual/audio form. Themajor components of system 30 are an integrated unit (or module) 32 anda remote control 34.

Integrated unit 32 includes a television set 36 with a screen 38 and avideo compact disc player 40, both housed in the same cabinet 42.Conventional on-board controls 44 for television set 36 are located onthe front panel 46 and one side panel 48 of cabinet 42, and on-boardcontrols 50 for disc player 40 are also located on front cabinet panel46. A conventional tray 51 is used to load a disc 31 into player 40.

The internal, operating components of integrated unit 32 are depictedschematically in FIG. 2. These components include input jacks which arecollectively identified by reference character 52 and are employed toconnect integrated unit 32 to a television signal source--a televisionantenna or cable and/or a VCR. A tuner 54 is employed by the user toselect one of the available television channels to watch or the VCRchannel (usually 3 or 4) at the user's location. The (off-the-air orVCR) signal is directed to a video/audio generator 56 which transformsthe incoming signal to a video signal convertible to visual images. Thevisual images are displayed on the CRT screen 38 of television set 36.The incoming signal also includes an audio component which is convertedto audible sound by video/audio generator 56 and the illustratedloudspeaker 60. The video and audible signals are routed to CRT 58 andloudspeaker 60 through an electronic switching device 62 which allows auser to choose between television reception and the COACH mode ofoperation.

The television set 36 and video compact disc player 40 are powered uptogether so that integrated unit 32 is always available for use in theCOACH mode when unit 32 is turned on.

Video compact disc player 40 has a conventional mechanism (not shown)for spinning the laser readable disc and an equally conventional laserpickup 64 for reading information stored in digital data files in thetracks 66 on discs 31 (only one of which is shown). The output frompickup 64 goes to a data reader 68, which outputs a stream of digitallycompressed data (the form in which the data is stored on disc 31). Thedata reader is connected to a decompressor 70 for the data retrieved inthe compressed format. After decompression, the data is routed to ananalog signal generator 72 which converts the data to video and audioanalog input signals utilizable by CRT 58 and loudspeaker 60 to generatevisual images and audible sound. The operation of the data reader, thedata decompressor, and the signal generator is controlled in aconventional manner by microprocessor 74.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, remote control 34 includes a complement ofcontrols--collectively identified by reference character 76--foroperating integrated unit 32. These controls (or actuators) arepreferably of the pushbutton type, with the actuation of each buttoncausing remote control 34 to broadcast a distinctly coded operatingsignal to integrated unit 32.

Like those on the front and side panels 46 and 48 of integrated unitcabinet 42, the controls of remote control 34 are preferably colorcoded. Table 1 below identifies a representative set of controls, thecolors assigned to the controls, the modulation frequency of the signaltransmitted when each of the controls is pressed, and the function ofeach control.

                  TABLE 1    ______________________________________                    Modulation    Control Color   Frequency  Function    ______________________________________    ON/OFF  GREEN   4100 Hz    Turns television set 36/                               video compact disk player                               40 on and off    TV      GRAY    4300 Hz    Places the television                               set 36 of integrated                               unit 32 and the remote                               unit controls in the                               television mode    COACH   GRAY    4500 Hz    Plays an introductory                               video and switches the                               buttons on remote control                               34 to their COACH mode                               functions so that                               a user can view the                               introductory video and/or                               navigate through a hierarchy of                               menus to information on                               a subject of interest    1. . . 9            GRAY    4700-6700 Hz                               In the television mode--                               select a television channel and/or                               the VCR channel; in the                               COACH mode --                               select a correspondingly                               numbered option from a menu    RESTART RED     6900 Hz    Jumps to the introductory                               video or the top level                               menu in a hierarchy of menus    BACK    GRAY    7100 Hz    Retreats to the previous                               step in a COACH mode                               sequence    PAUSE   GRAY    7300 Hz    Freezes operation in the                               COACH mode until pressed                               again    FORWARD GRAY    7500 Hz    Advances to the next step                               in a COACH mode sequence                               of steps    CHANNEL+            GRAY    7700 Hz    Selects the next higher                               television channel    CHANNEL-            GRAY    7900 Hz    Selects the next lower                               television channel    MUTE    GRAY    8100 Hz    Turns the sound off                               until pushed again    ______________________________________

Referring still the drawing, FIG. 3 shows in block diagram form thesteps employed in producing a video compact disc which embodies theprinciples of the present invention and has stored thereon in digitizedform data representing: (a) information for coaching a user of system orappliance 30 through a user-selected task or through user-selected onesof the steps involved in performing the task; and (b) an instruction setembodying the menu navigation and other options available to the systemuser.

The initial step in the disc-producing process of the present invention,identified by reference character 100 in FIG. 3, is to select and labelthose tasks on which coaching information is to be made available from avideo compact disc or other data storage device. For example, as shownin FIGS. 9A and 9B and as will be described in more detail below, thetasks selected for inclusion on a disc may all, as one example only, beassociated with activities that may be undertaken by one working in akitchen.

Once the tasks have been identified and labeled, each task--unless verysimple--is divided into the steps which must be accomplished to completethe task as indicated by reference character 102 in FIG. 3. It isimportant, in this respect, that each step be self-contained and have alogical beginning and ending. For example, in a step describing theclapping of hands, one would begin with the hands apart; then beingswung together into contact; and subsequently being swung apart to theinitial, at rest position. One would not coach a person to clap hands bybeginning with the hands in the middle of the inward swing; then beingbrought together; swung outwardly; and then swung inwardly to thestarting, intermediate position. That "step" would not have a logicalbeginning or ending, and it would not be self-contained. One would haveto refer to the presentation of information on at least one additionalstep to learn how to clap hands.

A third step 104 in the disc-producing process is to select theinformation format which can best be employed to coach one through eachstep of each selected task. Available options are static displays oftextual and graphic information or combinations thereof and videopresentations, any of which may be accompanied by an audio presentation.One of the tasks depicted in detail in FIG. 9B by way of example is theroasting of poultry, a task which is divided into four logical,self-contained steps. For a step such as TRUSSING (step 2), a videodemonstration (video clip) or other dynamic presentation of how a birdis trussed is the most appropriate. For option 5 (INGREDIENTS), a staticdisplay of the ingredients which must be on hand for the task ofroasting a bird is more appropriate. In other cases, still within thepurview of the FIGS. 9A, 9B example, a graphic display may prove mosthelpful. An example might be a static graphic display showing thearrangement or presentation on a platter of the roasted bird withaccompaniments and garnishes.

Step 104 is followed by step 106 in which the information for each stepin the selected format is generated. Video clips are produced with avideo recorder 108, typically a Betacam or other recorder capable ofproducing high quality video clips. It is important to control thelengths of the video clips. In many cases, clips less than 30 seconds induration will not provide sufficient information to the system user tobe optimally helpful unless a step on which the user is being coached isvery simple. At the other end of the range, as the duration of the clipexceeds (typically) about eight minutes, the risk of flooding the userwith more information than can be usefully assimilated rapidlyescalates.

Statically displayed information in textual or graphical format or ingraphical/textual form may be generated employing a conventionalpersonal computer and a desktop publishing program such as AldusPageMaker, for example. Typically, *.BMP files (reference character 109)are generated.

Usually, but not necessarily, while steps 104 and 106 are carried out,the instruction sets for the selected tasks are laid out as shown inFIGS. 5-8 (step 110).

Referring still to FIG. 3 but also to FIG. 4, the analog signalgenerated by video tape recorder 108 is digitized by an analog todigital (A/D) convertor 112; and the digital data is compressed as shownby reference character 114. Software which conforms to the MPEG (MotionPicture Expert Group) Standard can be used to compress the digitizedvideo signal. The digitized data is fed to a personal computer 116 inwhich an authoring program has been loaded. The *.BMP files representingstatically displayable presentations are inputted to computer 116 inthat format. Control instructions such as NEXT, PREVIOUS, and RESTART asshown in FIGS. 5-8 and described in detail below are inputted tocomputer 116 from a keyboard 118 employing a PSD (program sequencedescriptor).

The authoring software in computer 116 (for example, that supplied byDigital Video Systems) converts or translates the data inputted into thecomputer to a format which disc player 40 supports (step 119). Thereformatted data is transferred to a conventional laser-based compactdisc writer 120 which writes the data to video compact disc 31,typically by burning conventional pits into the tracks 66 of disc 31(step 121).

Referring still to the drawing, FIG. 5 depicts a representativenavigational chart 122 constructed in accord with the principles of thepresent invention. It is the steps on that chart--NEXT, PREVIOUS, andRESTART--which can be employed by a user of appliance 30 to select atask, obtain coaching on the task or a particular step of the task,return to introductory video 128 or a higher level menu in theillustrated hierarchy 130, or repeat the playing of the demonstrationvideo 132.

In the representative navigation chart 122 shown in FIG. 5, theintroductory video 128, the hierarchy 130 of menus, and the video clip132 are hierarchically related. Menu hierarchy 130 has three levels 134,136, and 138 of menus; and the menus at each level may afford the systemuser up to nine choices. The hierarchal structure thus "fans out" fromlevel-to-next lower level, giving the user up to 729 options on whichcoaching may be obtained if all menus at all levels provide thepermitted maximum of nine choices as shown by the following table.

                  TABLE 2    ______________________________________    Menu Hierarchy    Number of                               Number of    Level             Menus    Choices    ______________________________________    (Descending Order)    Top (134)         1        9    Second (136)      9        81    Third of Bottom (138)                      81       729    ______________________________________

One or more of the choices at each level may be information--a statictext, graphic, or text/graphic presentation or a video clip--instead ofnext lower level menu selections or a mixture of menu selections andinformational choices. However, it may be desirable to avoid a mixedcategory to minimize confusion and promote ease of use.

It is emphasized that FIG. 5 and Table 2 are concerned only with arepresentative hierarchy of menus. There may be fewer--or more--thanthree levels in the hierarchy, and the hierarchy may be asymmetric. Forexample, at the second level 136 of hierarchy 130, one or more of themenus may be a bottom level menu offering only options for selectinginformation. Present at the same level may be one or more other menusoffering choices leading to menus on the bottom (third) menu level 138.

The choices available at each level are preferably limited to nine; andthese choices are numbered so that, at every level, a choice can be madeby pressing a single, correspondingly numbered one of the buttons 1through 9 in remote control numerical keypad 140 (see FIG. 1A). Thisunique feature is another one which makes system 30 easy and convenientto use and therefore acceptable to a person without technical trainingor inclination and with only the instruction provided by introductoryvideo 128.

Once the introductory video 128 has been played, the user has twooptions. One is to press the dedicated RESTART button 142 of remotecontrol 34. This causes the introductory video to be replayed. Thesecond option is to press the also dedicated FORWARD (FWD) or NEXTbutton 144. This results in the single main menu 146 of top or firstmenu level 134 being displayed on screen 38. That menu has up to ninechoices as discussed above.

Selecting one of the main menu options may lead the user of system 30 toa second level 136 menu such as the illustrated menu 147 or to a staticor dynamic display of information on screen 38.

If a second level 136 menu is reached by pressing a button 1 . . . 9 onkeypad 140, the user of system 30 has the option of again pressing akeypad button 1 . . . 9 to bring up on screen 38 a third level 138 menusuch as the illustrated menu 148. Selecting an option from a third levelmenu: (a) brings to screen 38 a static or dynamic display of informationwhich coaches the user of system 30 through a task, or more probablymost often, one self-contained step of a task.

In many instances, a static display of information on the selected taskor step is too voluminous to fit on screen 38. In this case, the legendMORE appears at the bottom of the screen. When that happens, the usercan proceed by pressing remote control FWD button 144. This brings up onscreen 38 a second page continuing the presentation initiated by thefirst-displayed page of information.

This use of FWD button 144 can be continued until a page with the legendEND OF TEXT appears. END OF TEXT indicates that all of the informationon the task or step selected by the system user has been retrieved fromdisc 31 and displayed on screen 38.

The instruction set may be coded so that a video clip selected from amenu such as 148 will be automatically replayed until the user of system30: (1) presses remote control RESTART button 142 to return tointroductory video 128 or a top level menu such as 146, or (2) presses adedicated remote control button 154 labelled BACK or PREVIOUS to back upone step to a second level 136 menu. This automatic recycle feature isimportant because the system user is repeatedly given the appropriateinformation without any action on the user's part. In situationsrequiring the application of first aid, as one example, this is adecided advantage to one preoccupied with treating a victim in need ofimmediate attention.

As indicated in FIG. 5, the system user can return at any point, be itfrom a menu or a display of information, and in a single step, to theintroductory video 128. This is done by pressing remote control unitRESTART button 142. This ability to jump back to the introductory videoby pressing only one button allows the system user to at any time easilyand immediately rerun part or all of the introductory video if he or sheperceives the need for a refreshed recollection of what is available orhow to proceed in order to reach information on a step of interest.

Equally important, the system user can back up one step in thestep-by-step information accessing process by pressing a dedicatedremote control button 154 labelled BACK or PREVIOUS. This enables thesystem user, by pressing a single button, to: (a) back up from one pageof a static display to the preceding page; (b) back up from a display ofinformation to the menu from which the information was selected; (c)return from a currently displayed menu to a menu in the next higherlevel of hierarchy 130; and (d) return from main menu 146 in the toplevel 134 of hierarchy 130 to introductory video 128.

The navigation chart 155 depicted in FIG. 6 differs from navigationchart 122 in that there is an automatic default from the display of avideo demonstration or clip 132 to a graphic display 156 when the videoclip ends. One representative instance in which this can be employed toadvantage is in the preparation of food. The video clip being watched isin this example one coaching a user of system 30 through the last stepin the preparation of a dish such as the roasted bird discussed below.Once this clip ends, a graphic display 156 with the list of ingredientsneeded for the preparation of the dish automatically appears on screen38. In other applications of the present invention, display 156 may be aparts list, a list of the tools needed to complete a user-selected task,etc.

As one alternative, the data storage device may also be encoded suchthat the menu from which a dynamic display is selected will beautomatically returned to screen 38 once the presentation of the displayis completed. Another useful option is to encode data storage device 31so that video displays of the character described in the precedingparagraph will be replayed while the menu from which a choice is madewill be restored to screen 38 when other of the available dynamicdisplays are selected.

Navigation charts 157 (FIG. 7) and 158 (FIG. 8) differ from navigationcharts 122 and 155, respectively, in only one significant particular.This is that the pressing of remote control RESTART button 142 returnsthe system user to top level menu 146 rather than to introductory video128. This is a feature of convenience for system users who have alreadyviewed and are familiar with the introductory video. The system user canreturn to the first display of interest--i.e., the top levelmenu--without having to reach that menu from the introductory video withFWD button 144.

The introductory video-menu-information data storage layout 160 of FIGS.9A and 9B for a kitchen use-oriented video compact disc 31 with taskoriented coaching is representative. That layout has an introductoryvideo 162, a four-level menu hierarchy 164 with a top level 166, asecond level 168, a third level 169, and a fourth or bottom level 170.This layout also makes available among other displays of informationfour video clips 172 . . . 178 designed to coach a system user throughthe four self-contained steps of a single task--roasting poultry--and astatic, graphics-text display 180 which lists the ingredients requiredfor that task.

In employing the illustrated, representative system 30 and a videocompact disc 31 with a layout as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B for the taskjust mentioned--i.e., to roast a bird--the user selects choice 2 fromtop level main menu 182 by pressing remote control keypad button 2initially, or after having watched introductory video 162. This bringsup on screen 38 the second level menu 184 labeled TECHNIQUES. At thatjuncture, the system user presses button 2 on remote control keypad 140.This brings up on screen 38 the third level menu 186 labeled POULTRY.

Using button 5 on remote control keypad 140, the system user thenselects from the third level menu 186 the fourth or bottom level menu188 labeled ROASTING. This menu makes available the four videodemonstrations 172, 174, 176, and 178 which respectively coach thesystem user through the four steps of roasting a bird--seasoning,trussing, and cooking the bird and, finally, preparing pan gravy. Any orall of these coaching demonstrations can be selected by the user withthe remote control keypad buttons 1 . . . 9 and BACK button 154. Forexample, the user may elect to see the demonstration on seasoning a birdby pressing button 1 once menu 188 is reached, return to that menu atthe end of the video by pressing BACK button 154, and then view thevideo clip on making pan gravy by pressing keypad button 4 or jumpdirectly to the list of ingredients needed to roast the bird by pressingkeypad button 5. Or, as another example, the user may elect to view thevideo on making pan gravy after having watched any of the otheravailable demonstrations. In that case, the ingredients list 180 willautomatically come up on screen 38 after the video on making pan gravyhas ended.

It will be appreciated, in accord with the foregoing, that there arenumerous other ways in which the system user can elect to be coachedthrough the task of roasting a bird. Also, it is to be noted that FIGS.9A and 9B depict only a fragment of layout 160. For example, none of thelower level menus appended to the second level menu 190 entitledSTOCKING UP or the coaching information available by navigating downwardfrom menu 190 are shown.

The invention may be embodied in many forms without departing from thespirit or essential characteristics of the invention. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention isindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of producing an encoded data storagedevice which includes the steps of:identifying a task; dividing saidtask into a set of logical, self-contained steps; selecting a format forinformation utilizable to coach a user of an appliance equipped withsaid storage device in accomplishing at least one of said steps;generating information for performing said step in the format selectedfor that step; generating a hierarchical array of multiple choice menuswith said hierarchical array being so constructed that there is aone-to-one correspondence between all menu choices and either: (a) nextlower level menus, or (b) those task steps on which information isavailable; the choices available from the menus in said hierarchicalmenus being so encoded that any choice can be made by activating asingle, numbered actuator of a numerical keypad incorporated in anappliance equipped with the laser readable disc; generating for saidtask an instruction set which enables the user to navigate through saidhierarchical array of menus and access the information for accomplishingany of those steps selected by the user on which information isavailable; converting said information, said hierarchical array, andsaid instruction set to digital data; and permanently writing thedigital data to said data storage device.
 2. A method as defined inclaim 1 in which said instruction set contains a user-retrievablecommand which enables a user to have the information on a particularstep of said task repeated.
 3. A method as defined in claim 1 in whichsaid instruction set has user-retrievable commands which enable a userto navigate directly from a presentation of information on one step ofsaid task to a presentation of information on a preceding or subsequentstep.
 4. A method as defined in claim 1 in which said instruction sethas a user-retrievable command which enables a user to return directlyfrom a presentation of information on a particular step of said task toa top level menu in a hierarcy of menus or to an introductory video. 5.A method as defined in claim 1 in which said instruction set hasuser-retrievable commands for switching the operation of an applianceequipped with said data storage device between a first, televisionwatching mode of operation and a second, information retrieving anddisplaying mode of operation.
 6. A method as defined in claim 5 in whichthe command for switching the operation of appliance from the first,television watching mode of operation to the second, informationretrieving and displaying mode of operation returns the operation of theappliance to the point at which operation of the appliance in saidsecond mode is interrupted by switching said appliance from operation inthat mode to operation in the television receiving mode of operation. 7.A method as defined in claim 1 in which said instruction set comprisesuser-retrievable commands for navigating forwards and backwards throughsaid hierarchical array of menus and for selecting choices from the saidmenus.
 8. A method as defined in claim 1 in which said instruction sethas a command for so operating an appliance equipped with the datastorage device that a choice selected from a menu of said hierarchicalarray resulting in a presentation of information will remain activeuntil a subsequent command is selected.
 9. A method as defined in claim1 in which the encoded data provides an asymmetrical multiple choicemenu.
 10. A method as defined in claim 1 in which the encoded dataprovides a video clip, a multiple choice menu from which the retrievaland display of said video clip can be selected, and an instruction setso coded that said menu is returned to the screen of an applianceequipped with the data storage device when the display of said video iscompleted.
 11. A method as defined in claim 1 in which the encoded dataprovides a video clip and an instruction set so coded that said clip isrepeatedly replayed until stopped by a user of an appliance equippedwith the data storage device.
 12. A method as defined in claim 1 inwhich the stored data provides a multiple choice menu and a dynamicdisplay of information which may be selected from that menu, said datastorage device also being so encoded that a display of said menu isreturned to the screen of an appliance equipped with the data storagedevice when the dynamic display of information ends.